rear axle U-bolts

[LCAM-01XA]

I've lost half of a leaf on the passenger side of my rear axle, truck is now tilted to that side at least an inch, more if I put some load inside. I have been unable to find replacement leafs or any used leafs packs for a decent price around here, but I do have overloads that I hardly ever have to use - I'm planning on ditching the broken leaf and the respective one on the driver side, then put the overloads in their place, and finally use the 1" blocks that are currently between the main pack and the overloads as lift blocks to get the rear height like it should be. Two questions on that:

1) what size are the stock U-bolts, and what socket do the nuts for them take?

2) how are the leaf packs held together, I know there's a bolt through all the leafs, but is there a nut for its end, or what's the deal?

Thanks!

 

[Metalmacguyver]

Typically leafs are held together with just a bolt through the middle. the bolt usually has a round head to fit the hole in the spring perch on the axle. The nut is usually just a nut.

Make sure you have C clamps on spring right next to the bolt when you remove the bolt.

Also, inspect for cracks in the rest of the leafs when you pull the pack apart.

It would be a good idea to go with new Ubolts aswell.

 

[Cat_Rebel]

MLSC what leafs do you need? I might have some in my garage that can get you through the winter. Not perfect but not broke. If you want let me know you are about 45-50 mins from me I'll even help ya do em.

 

[Redneck]

As someone who's done a ton of messing around with leaf sprung suspensions (first gen toyota 4x4's are my first automotive love), please let me give you a bit of advice....
Get new U bolts, re-using the old ones is a sketchy proposition, they've seen alot of stress under your truck for the last....how many years?
Your centering pin can be a regular hex head bolt. There's a hole in your spring perch that the head of it sits in to keep the axle from slipping up and down the leaf. I've always used grade 5 hardwear, but I pull my suspension apart every couple months to inspect/regrease everything, grade 8's would be a better plan for your suspension that won't be touched again for a few years most likely.
always always always replace leaves together, if you end up buying a donor pack from a junkyard or something, get both leaf packs out of that donor vehicle, and do unto one side as you do unto the other. This is because the leaves will be fatigued differently from different trucks so you'll change the ride with your self built ******* pack...so you want both sides to be riding the same.
I once built a suspension in a dirtfloor shop for a trail buggy and wasn't able to level everything, we discovered after that we'd somehow built a pack with 2" more arch than the other three...

 

[LCAM-01XA]

MLSC what leafs do you need? I might have some in my garage that can get you through the winter. Not perfect but not broke. If you want let me know you are about 45-50 mins from me I'll even help ya do em.

Well, I have 5-leaf main packs, if we designated the fat short leaf at the axle as #1 and the longest top one with the hangers and shackles as #5, then on the passenger side my #2 is the broken one, and #3 right above it looks like it was a longer leaf that was cut down to length. So I'll need the at least one pair of #2 leafs, preferably a pair of #3 as well. Ideally I'd like to throw in another pair of leafs so truck don't drag ass when I hook up the heavy enclosed 30-footer, but that's not entirely necessary right now... Think you have something I could use? And yes, your assistance in the surgery would be highly appreciated

Anyone know what U-bolts I need - are they 9/16" or 5/8" diameter, and what's the diameter of our axles? Same with the center bolt, what diameter is it, 3/8"? Also, where do I get those, would a parts store have those in stock?

Redneck and Metalmacguyver, I plan on new U-bolts of course, those are a very bad place to try to save some cash on. And I'll get the packs changes in pairs, that's for sure.

 

[Cat_Rebel]

I'll go look in the garage & see what I have laying around tomorrow, if I ain't got it I can try to track some down.
Far as the U bolts go if you want I have a local parts store that can order em. Donno the price but tell me how long they are & I can just mesure em off mine. Takes about a day to get em after they order em. The bolts should be 15/16 or 7/8s I have a big 3/4" breaker bar & a little propane torch that says they WILL come off.

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Yes, please look in your garage, and see what sort of leafs you can find, then we can base the length of the U-bolts on that (if we're putting in more leafs I'll need longer bolts). Only thing is, how does one measure U-bolts? Lay them flat and measure from the bottom of the U-shaped part to the end of the threaded part?

 

[Metalmacguyver]

Diameter of axle tube*overall lenght (bottom of u shaped part to end of threaded part)*bolt diameter. At least thats how I have always measured them.

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Cool, now if I could only find a pair of measuring calipers (I'm visiting a buddy, he ain't got those)... Will try the tape-measure today.

 

[sootman73]

u bolts aren't cheap man. when i ripped my axle off in the pond i got all new leaves and bolts and hangers and etc... they charged $50.00 a u bolt! i couldn't believe that they spent $200 on four bolts! the leaves were like $300 for both sides!

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Rockauto has them for cheap, 5/8" x 3-5/8" x 10-1/2" (2wd with overloads) for like $12 and 5/8" x 3-5/8" x 13-1/2" (4wd with overloads) for like $13 a piece. $50 a bolt is a total ripoff.

 

[Diesel_brad]

u bolts aren't cheap man. when i ripped my axle off in the pond i got all new leaves and bolts and hangers and etc... they charged $50.00 a u bolt! i couldn't believe that they spent $200 on four bolts! the leaves were like $300 for both sides!

Yeah.! you got hosed. I had a set of ubolts made when i changed the blocks in my dually. 4" axle tube. 18" long and 7/8 diameter. 25 bucks a piece. There is a spring shop by me who is awesome

 

[tractorman86]

i've heard never to get them from checker, napa is good i've heard, i dont have any idea if rock auto's stuff is any good. is there a Fleet pride anywhere near you? they make them in house and they can make them very strong.

 

[sootman73]

ya i didn't care though because i wasn't paying for them. but thats a stealership part for ya!

 

[LCAM-01XA]

How do you guys get those 7/8" U-bolts through the top plate? Stock bolts are 5/8" and 7/8" is a whole lot fatter, do you re-drill the plate or what?

And no, there ain't no Fleet Pride locations anywhere in MI. But it seems like Cat Rebel is happy with the U-bolts that his local shop carries, so I may go with those.